Wisteria Island

Wisteria Island #1

by Rachel Hanna

She's running from the most embarrassing moment of her life when she finds herself smack dab in the middle of an island full of misfit old people.

Danielle Wright has had an illustrious career as a nurse, but when the unthinkable happens, she has nowhere to run to get out of the gaze of prying eyes and judgmental people. When she takes a job as the nurse for Wisteria Island, she has no clue what she's agreeing to.

The brainchild of a wealthy entrepreneur, Wisteria Island is home to a cast of quirky, and often difficult, characters. When Danielle finds out why the previous eight nurses have all quit within days, she has to decide whether to stick it out or go back to a life she no longer recognizes.

Wisteria Island is a standalone novel by USA Today bestselling author, Rachel Hanna. If you love southern women's fiction and lots of laughs, you'll enjoy this one!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Beach Reads

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2021

About the author

Hey there! Before I tell you all about myself, can I invite you to join my private Rachel's Readers Facebook group? That's where my readers hang out, discuss my books, participate in giveaways and learn about new releases.

You can join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rache...

So who am I? My name is Rachel Hanna, and I am a wife, mother of three incredible kids (maybe I am a BIT biased?), two lovable doggies and one cat that lives outside and thinks he owns the world. Okay, I also have a gecko now too. Don't judge me.

I started writing as a young child, and I went into the field of Journalism for many years as an adult. Now, as a romantic fiction writer, I get to live out my own daydreams every single day and share them with readers around the world!

I'm a Southern chick living near Atlanta, so I say "yes, ma'm" and "ya'll", but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! I am not sure if my work with seniors has anything to do with that, but I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel good story!

This story is about Wisteria Island, a place where odd ball elderly people live in comfort. A rich entrepreneur, Bennett, begins life on the island in honor of his beloved grandmother, who passed away unhappily in a nursing home. Bennett believed there was a better way and began creating a safe living space with seniors, allowing supports to those who need it. Danielle, a former ICU lead nurse comes to the island after wanting a fresh start. Danielle soon learns she is one of many nurses to come to the island, and the only one who has stayed.

The characters on the island were charming and lovable, and the story and romance between Danielle and Bennett was sweet and perfect.

I really did adore this story and the rich way the author developed the characters and back story. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Wren Woodland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, quirky book, filled with memorable characters. Instead of the island of misfit toys (in Rudolph), this is the island of misfit old people, some of whom are castaways from their families who don't want to bother with them anymore. Enter Danielle, who ran the ICU at a prestigious hospital, until her fiancé did all kinds of jerkiness and she left in scandal. Her goal was to hide herself away and lick her wounds, but when she arrived on the Island, she wondered if she had entered an alternate reality. Bennett a very wealthy entrepreneur, who grew up with nothing, is determined to spend his fortune compassionately and is financing the island as a very nontraditional retirement community, where all elderly are welcomed and loved as part of the family. There were plenty of reasons the previous 8 nurses had left within hours or days of their arrival and Danielle struggles to fit in.
This story addresses the issues of elder care, their dignity, their families, and allowing them to still be themselves and make decisions even as they are getting older. And yes, there is a HEA at the end.
I received this as an ARC, and it was a very enjoyable clean, read,

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is adorable. Loved the seniors!

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are all drawn to read a book for different reasons…
For "Wisteria Island"...
• Memories of falling in love with wisteria on my 1st trip to Georgia.
• The beautiful cover generated immediate dreaming of wisteria growing at a cottage by the sea.
• Intrigued by the description that the island is "the brainchild of a wealthy entrepreneur" and wondering if Nurse 9 would stay.

I enjoyed all the characters and particularly the thought, however fictional, that such an island could exist. The storyline is predictable for a contemporary romance but is a pleasant interlude of reading.

I would have been so happy to give this 4 Stars but a plot error not corrected prior to publishing was a major disappointment.
Chapter 8---Conversation between Bennett Alexander and Nurse Danielle Wright.

"How about this? We’ll set up a romantic dinner on the beach at sunset and then lure each of them there. Thoughts?"
Danielle smiled. "That’s actually a great idea. When?"
"As soon as possible. How about tomorrow night? At sunset?"
"Sounds great. I’ll get Berta there, and you handle Edwin."

Chapter 9---
Imagine the disappointment to learn that the next night Danielle and Bennett are not creating the special date for Berta and Edwin as there's an event for all residents and visiting families of a beach party. It is not until Chapter 13 when the special date is discussed again for "tomorrow night."

Chapter 13--- Conversation between Bennett and Danielle.

"So, when are we going to plan the date for Berta and Edwin?"
She smiled. "Well, I wanted to talk to you about that. I was thinking maybe tomorrow night?"

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read the book that was described. This was not what I expected. I paused my reading after 3 pages… read the description again, saw that this book has an inexplicable rating of over 4 stars and thought well it must get better. Nope. Took me about 2 hours to read. I’m actually surprised I finished it but I had started counting the number of times “petite” and “ICU” appeared.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting through this one... There wasn't enough character building of the main characters for my liking. The residents of Wisteria Island were interesting, some amusing, however, I felt like the reader was being told what Danielle and Bennett were feeling without us actually feeling it, finding out why. The story jumped at times and didn't flow properly. It was predictable and I can't say that I was rooting for the main characters because we didn't delve into who they were or how they were together. The whole thing seemed rushed and without substance. The premise of Wisteria island is beautiful, but the story just felt too forced and rushed.

[Charlotte Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read that felt like a Hallmark movie. While it was completely predictable, I enjoyed learning about the island, the residents, and seeing the character progression. Wisteria Island is a fun and cute book that would be perfect if you don’t want something too heavy or intense. I will definitely be reading book 2!

[Kim Bruce Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I love the concept of Wisteria Island & the cast of characters. I found myself laughing out loud at the residents of the island. My favorites are Morty & Gladys. Of course nothing but a great happy ending!!

[Madeleine Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be trite, shallow and extremely repetitive. It was a perfect example of why authors should “show, not tell” in their work; I felt as though the author was insulting my intelligence with her writing. The structure of the story was sloppy at best and left me uninterested in any of the characters or how they got to the (saccharine and inevitable) ending. No mystery, no suspense, no growth, no intrigue, not even really any romance, just a bland story poorly told.

[Jean Neisius · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the plot, the writing style was rather thin. The writer relied on cliches, repetitions, and weak narrative structure. It reminded me of junior high level writing

[Emi Dogandjiev · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a heartwarming, wholesome read. I love the concept of Wisteria Island, an island for quirky elderly folks (who are fun characters!). I also LOVED the tie in to the South Carolina Sunsets series and was delighted to find out that Wisteria Island is located near Seagrove. I did knock off one star because the romance story line was way too predictable and the ending felt very rushed. I will be checking out Wisteria Winds (book #2) as I fell in love with the characters in this book and the setting.

[Linda Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. If you are looking for a feel good put a smile on your face this is the book for you. It is a very heartwarming story and moved me. I highly recommend

[Susan Opp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable but cute

[Lillian Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super super cute! Now to get Libby to add more of
Her books on audio.

[Sarah Messenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read and the setting was beautiful. The seniors were adorable. A real “make you feel good story” and a happy ending.

[Michelle Oberlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, like a Hallmark movie

[Cj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book. The concept was great. Seniors are not supposed to be forgotten by family or taken advantage of. I would live on Wisteria Island but , hopefully, a second book is coming as I didn’t like how fast things were wrapped up. To me, it just felt like you were reading and then, it was done

[Erayna Touchstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a lifetime movie waiting to happen (in a good way). I liked the premise and the setting, it's a fluffy feel-good read, perfect for the beach / pool or if you want something light. Predictable, but I enjoyed it.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisteria Island is a new book by Rachel Hanna. As usual she has written a magnificent book about real people and the things they have to go through in life and the love they find when they least expect it.
Bennett Alexander was a billionaire who had purchased a small island off the coast of South Carolina. He named it Wisteria Island after the flower his Nana had loved. Then he proceeded to build a small town on the island that housed the elderly in private homes and in assisted living facilities. Many of those on the island had no family left to care for them and others had families who didn’t want to go to the trouble to care for them. Bennett even provided a nurse to take care of their medical needs. That is, when he could get one to stay.
Danielle Wright was an ICU nurse but she had given up her job after being humiliated by her ex-fiancé Dr. Richard Abernathy, who while engaged to her was also engaged to two other nurses in the same hospital and one of those was pregnant. Everything Danielle had worked so hard for in her career seemed to now be tainted with the rumors about her and Richard. She couldn’t stand the whispering so quit and took a job on this small island. When she got her first look at the house she was to stay in, she almost gave it up immediately and begged a ride back to the mainland. However, her pride kept her from ding that and she stayed to see what the job was like.
The inhabitants of the island were unique and set in their ways. They were all individually unique and just a little eccentric. They expected anyone coming to work on the island would change to accommodate them not the other way around. It would take a while to gain their trust; but did she have the time or did she want to gain their trust? Did she even want to stay on the island?

[Anne Wolters · Rating 5 out of 5]

As in all her books, Rachel Hanna develops interesting, strong characters that draws the reader to them.  Danielle has quit her job as the head of the ICU at a large city hospital in Atlanta to accept the job as the one and only resident health care provider on a small island off the coast of South Carolina where the residents are all senior citizens. Upon arrival she learns there were 8 nurses before her who left after a very short period-of- time, some within hours.  

The owner of Wisteria Island is wealthy, single,  Bennett Alexander, who has chosen to live a simple life caring for the residents.  He hires a nurse to look after the medical needs of the people who live on the island. 

Upon arrival to the island, Danielle is having second thoughts about accepting this position.  She recently ended her engagement to Richard, an ICU doctor at the hospital, which was what prompted her to quit her job.   As the story progresses it is heartwarming to see how the relationships that Danielle is making with the residents have changed and how she is making a difference in many of their lives. The quirky residents begin to work their way into the readers heart as well.

This book was delightfully heartwarming!  It was the good feeling you get when you see some friends you haven’t seen in a while. That is what happened as I was reading along in the book  when suddenly old friends Dixie and Julie appeared at Down Yonder Books as well as few other familiar friends from previous Rachel Hanna books.  This is a stand-alone book so reading her other books will not have an impact on this one.

[Rachel Benzine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway, and the plot sounded adorable, so I was excited to read it. However, I just couldn't get into it. I didn't find the main character particularly likeable. But my biggest issue was the amount of times that someone's weight was commented on. From the first resident of the island Danielle meets being described as "grossly overweight and way too big to he occupying the small gold cart" with several comments made about his size, to other fat-shaming comments about other residents, to constant statements throughout the whole book about how small Danielle is, how petite Danielle is, how often she skips dinners, how she usually doesn't eat very much or very often, etc... it was just way too much, and distracted me from being able to get into the plot of the book. I ultimately DNF'ed at 84%, with the final straw being the main character being at a bowling alley, with passage "They both sat down and put on their shoes before picking out their bowling balls. Being petite, it took Danielle a little longer to find something to feel comfortable to hold." Just could not do it anymore.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The description sounded cute and fun so I gave this a shot. In all honesty, it comes off as if it was written by a high-schooler. Most of the book the main character was rude to everyone around her so much so that I considered giving up multiple times. She didn't come off as likeable, so the romance in the story made very little sense.

I was hoping for more about the quirky old people that lived on the island. It was mostly about Danielle bad mouthing them and miserably wondering why she left her amazing job for "this."

The author body shames a ton of the characters and is talking every other chapter about Danielle being "very petite" and "eating so little." I rolled my eyes when one of the characters made a remark about how tiny her feet were and they may not have bowling shoes that fit.

There's a 2nd book in the series, but I doubt I'll read it, if it's anything like this moderate dumpster fire.

[Michelle Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy book that reads like a Hallmark movie. So if you're a fan of Hallmark, you'll love this book. Fun idea with quirky characters, the execution just wasn't for me. I do think Dani might need to see a doctor though. I counted 5 times the author wrote "her eyes popped out of her head". That seems like a troubling medical condition.

[Marion Marchetto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bennett Alexander is a self-made billionaire; he’s also the owner and founder of Wisteria Island, an island retreat posing as an assisted living facility. Bennett come from poverty and has always felt like a misfit. This is the reason he’s created Wisteria Island – a small island off the coast of South Carolina that he’s outfitted to welcome and serve elderly citizens who either have no family or have a family that doesn’t care overly much about what happens to them. Bennett has many friends among the seniors, most notably a fellow named Morty who dresses like Liberace. There is currently no lady-love in Bennett’s life. He’s sort of given up on romance as every woman he’s dated has only been interested in his bank account.

Danielle Wright is a well-respected ICU nurse at a hospital in New York. She has worked hard to attain her position as Chief ICU Nurse but her work has left her little time for romance. Along the way she became engaged to Dr. Richard Abernathy and things were well with her. Until the scandal that uprooted her life surfaced. Shame and embarrassment drove her to leave her position and move away. At the age of forty, it would be difficult to start over where no one knew her but that’s exactly what she did when she accepted the job of Island Nurse at Wisteria Island. Totally unlike her former job, Danielle thought it would be the perfect place to begin her life anew. Until she discovered that there had been eight previous nurses who had quit the job within days of their arrival. And when Danielle feels the doubt and mistrust of the seniors she must serve, it’s almost enough to send her packing. It doesn’t help that the cottage she’s given for a residence is barely standing and is inhabited by residents that aren’t human. But Danielle must make a choice: stick it out on Wisteria Island or return to the city hospital that was the site of her downfall.

The story centers around two major themes: life for the elderly and romance. The seniors were presented in a heartwarming manner – with all their human foibles coming to the fore. It’s delightful to see these people hold themselves close to the vest as they form a close knit group closed to outsiders – like the island nurses who come and go with regularity. But the high-jinks they come up with are precious and what makes them unique. The romance between two characters (Bennett and Danielle) is charming. It is a slow burn to be sure but it grows ever brighter like the flame of a candle.
I really enjoyed this story, my first by Rachel Hanna. There is a sequel to this one called Wisteria Winds and I look forward to reading that one. The story also tugs at the heart-strings when we read about Family Week – and experience the sadness that some of the seniors experience when no one shows up to celebrate with them. I liked how Danielle went to bat for several of the residents and how they grew on her. Wisteria Island is a perfect beach read as it follows life on the island. We get to meet some unforgettable characters – especially Morty and the aging screen star.

The ending seemed a bit rushed but not overly much.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ - for certain audiences

What I like about Rachel Hanna books is how easy they are to get through, with their wholesome plots. I enjoyed the idea behind this book more than I enjoyed the book - I loved the setting and cast of characters. It was also fun seeing some of the characters who are in the South Carolina Sunsets series.

That said, there were pacing and confusing plot issues that really stood out - an editor would have caught these. The love interests were surface level, and I didn’t understand what they liked about each other. The third act conflict is one of my most disliked, but I appreciate that Rachel Hanna always ties up her conflicts with a neat little bow.

I almost never rate an audiobook narrator, but this was narrated by Michelle Morgan, and it was rough to get through. Her inflections seemed out of place, especially since she was slightly monotonous, and she didn’t change her voice while characters were dialoguing. Sometimes she’d throw in a southern accent that wasn’t there before when a character was speaking. I’m glad that the second book in the series is narrated by Jennifer March, who I enjoy as a narrator.

[Linda Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read

As a senior citizen, this book spoke to my heart! Especially these past few years, with the isolation brought on by Covid-19, the limitations of poor health and arthritis, and the realization that you can no longer just do whatever you want, go wherever you want, etc. Living on an island or in a village that allowed you to do as much as you could on your own terms, with dignity, is appealing; however, being abandoned by the very family members you sacrificed so many dreams for can be a harsh reality! This book make you stop and think! Bittersweet?
The romance aspect of the book was a little disappointing! I found it hard to conceive that two such driven, success-oriented, highly-intelligent people could be such wimps in the romance department! I'm glad Danielle's mother put in her two-cents worth in before it was too late! This is definitely a "Hallmark" candidate!

[Marcie Pomper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the idea of a wealthy entrepreneur buying a small island and creating a place for the elderly to live their healthiest lives and becoming family to each other. When Danielle suffers what she feels is the most embarrassing thing in her life she decides to apply as the nurse on this island. After discovering that several nurses that were hired before her didn’t last, she begins to wonder what she got herself into. Loved how she interacts with the residents of the island and how they come come to care and trust each other. Also love how she and Bennett who are each wary of getting involved, find themselves building on a friendship and mutual love of taking care of the seniors on the island. With a brief visit to Seagrove where we once again meet with old friends, you’ll get pulled into this book waiting to see what happens next. Loved it.

[Alex Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much. It's an easy read with little intrigue or drama: ideal for bedtime or the beach (or if you have enough drama of your own going on). Some readers may find it a bit slow: I found it a gentle escape...like sitting outside your favourite coffee shop and people watching.
It contains an exploration into an eclectic and diverse range of characters: which reassures us that it's ok to celebrate our own quirky traits and persona. Rachel captures all their personalities beautifully: some are quite hilarious, while some are just downright rude.
It would be lovely to think we all had the opportunity to be adopted by a community like Wisteria Island as we get older.
The book touches on some challenging issues and life events with incredible sensitivity and a positive outlook. Well done Rachel!

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danielle Wright had a fantastic career as a nurse before everything changed. After a most embarrassing situation in her life occurred, she runs away from her prestigious job, life, and friends to start over and find herself. Danielle ends up finding herself in the middle of an island of misfit, old, judgmental, people. She becomes the only nurse on the island and finds herself intrigued with the unusual, quirky characters. All the nurses before Danielle, only lasted a few hours or a couple days on the job. This is a wonderful adventure for Danielle plus she has to decide what she wants in her life. Meeting the owner of Wisteria Island and billionaire, Bennett Alexander, life really becomes more complicated. Fun reading and the characters are refreshing!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danielle takes a job as a nurse on a 5000 acre island off the coast of South Carolina. She had been running the ICU at the best hospital in Atlanta and engaged to a doctor in the same unit. She thought her life was on the perfect track. She left Atlanta under a cloud of embarrassment, never planning to return. This new job, however, was not quite what she was expecting. The island was owned by a wealthy tech entrepreneur who had established a community for elderly people looking for a place to connect with other people. The cottage she is taken to upon arrival is nearly uninhabitable. Not surprisingly, there have been eight nurses in three years. Danielle is also ready to bolt but decides to try it out. The eccentric residents start to pull her in. It is a quick enjoyable read.